MCCF / ACE Hub in Lewisham (Nunhead)

MCC Foundation Hubs - free training for state-school players in years 7-11

Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation each year provides free training to state-school educated children (girls and boys) in school years 7-11. There are over 60 Hubs across the UK.

In 2024, with additional funding from England & Wales Cricket Board, the number of Hubs across the country has grown from 77 to 150 and an increase in match play for all participants is planned.

All coaching is provided completely free of charge, funded by generous donors (private individuals and other charities) who wish to ensure that state-educated pupils are offered opportunities to play cricket to a high standard.

Matches are mainly between Hubs and run in the summer term. SMCC normally provides free use of our pitches for at least one day of matches. Each year, for the Boys U14-16 and Girls' squads, there is a national finals day at Lord's, which south London teams have reached in the past. 

Many of our players (girls and boys) have attended MCCF Hub training in over the last few years and have invariably said the experience has been very enjoyable.

ACE Programme (who co-operate this Hub)

The ACE Programme Charity was founded to to engage young people of African and Caribbean Heritage, in response to the decline of the black British professional players. 

A driving force behind the founding of the programme was Ebony-Jewel Rainford-Brent, who is now chair of the charity. Day to day operations are led by Chevy Green, who for many years was SMCC's main contact at Surrey Cricket Foundation and is hugely experienced at running cricket programmes. The professional coaching team includes SMCC's Men's 1st Team captain, Neneto Davis and our Junior Club Captain, Sean Ryan.

Several SMCC junior players have already participated in the ACE programme and have very much enjoyed it. We've seen with our own eyes the difference that the programme's high quality training has made to these players.

Trial for this Hub is not normally required

Over the last few years, typically all or nearly all of the SMCC players attending the trials have been invited to train with the Hubs, but obviously this is not guaranteed.

If more players apply than these Hubs have spaces for, coaches will pick the players who seem to have the greatest potential to benefit from partaking in the Hubs, based on observing players during the first session in the series.

Dates and times of sessions

Sessions are on Saturdays on the following dates:

Trial: Jan 20
Jan 27
Feb 3, 10, 24 (no session on 17th)
Mar 9, 16, 23, 30

Under 12-14s (school years 7-9) at 1:45-3:15pm 

Under 15-16s (school years 10-11) at 3:15-4:45pm

Questions?

Please email  the Lewisham Hub Manager, Asher Roberts, on asher.roberts@kentcricket.co.uk

Venue - Haberdashers' Hatcham College (Nunhead)